THE  INAUGURATION 


— OF  — 


Newton  Bateman, 

H / % 

— AS  — 


President  of  Knox  College, 

GALESBURG,  ILLINOIS, 


JUNE  23,  A.  D.  1875. 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  TRUSTEES. 


LI  BRAKY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
« UR3ANA-CHAMPAIGU 


GALESBURG,  ILL.: 

RBINTBB  BY  THK  GaLKSBUBO  PBINTINU  AN1>  BuBLIWHINU  GoMBANY. 

187S. 


III.  Ro-veu  lOApll  F i-fnc.  r\  .SO 


K“17K 


Inaugural  Ceremonies. 


THE  INVESTITURE. 

Agreeably  to  public  announcement  previously  made,  a very  large  audience 
assembled  in  the  Opera  House,  in  the  City  of  Galesburg,  Illinois,  at  eight 
o’clock  on  the  evening  of  Wednesday,  June  23,  1875,  to  witness  the  Inau- 
guration of  Newton  Bateman,  as  President  of  Knox  College. 

The  Trustees,  Faculty  and  invited  guests  having  taken  their  places  on  the 
platform,  and  prayer  having  been  offered  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bascom,  the  Hon. 
Charles  B.  Lawrence,  Vice  President  of  the  Board,  holding  in  his  hand  the 
keys  of  the  College,  arose  and  addressed  the  President  elect,  as  follows : 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  Knox  College  having  elected  you  to  the  office  of 
President  of  this  Institution,  I now,  in  their  name,  deliver  to  you  these  sym- 
* bols  of  your  authority,  and  present  you  to  this  audience  as  the  duly  consti- 
tuted executive  head  of  Knox  College. 

The  President  elect  replied  as  follows : 

Gentlemen  of  the  Board  of  Trustees : With  a due  appreciation  of  its 
honor  and  dignity,  and  with  a profound  sense  of'  its  difficulties  and  responsi- 
bilities, I accept  the  Presidency  of  Knox  College,  pledging  myself  to  a faith 
ful  observance  of  all  its  lawfully  constituted  authorities,  to  study  its  peace, 
honor  and  welfare,  and  to  labor  earnestly  for  its  enlargement  and  prosperity, 
as  God  shall  give  me  wisdom  and  strength,  until  the  solemn  trust  now 
assumed  shall  be  by  you  recalled,  or  by  me  surrendered. 


Turning  to  the  audience,  President  Bateman  then  spoke  as  follows : 

THE  INAUGURAL  ADDRESS. 

Every  college  has  an  individuality,  a character,  of  its  own.  In  thinking 
of  a particular  college,  as  in  thinking  of  a particular  person,  its  distinctive 
characteristics  come  at  once  into  view,  and  by  them  our  general  estimate  of  it 
is  determined.  And  as  personal  characteristics  are  of  two  kinds,  of  the  body 
and  of  the  soul,  so  also  are  those  of*  colleges — a consideration  of  both  is,  in 

192433 


4 


INAUGURAL  CEREMONIES. 


each  case  alike,  essential  to  the  completeness  of  our  conceptions  and  judg- 
ments. And  again,  as  our  thoughts  fasten  chiefly  upon  the  intellectual  and 
moral  attributes,  and  subordinately  upon  the  physical  and  outward,  in  forming 
our  estimates  of  men,  so  also  is  it  in  our  notions  and  estimates  of  colleges. 

We  think  of  Washington,  and  while  the  calm  dignity  and  majesty  of  his 
mien  and  presence  may  come  first  into  the  field  of  vision,  the  mind  passes 
quickly  from  these  to  dwell  upon  the  matchless  virtues  which  made  him  the 
hero  of  the  Revolution,  the  Father  of  his  Country,  and  the  ornament  of 
history.  We  think  of  Lincoln,  and  although  it  is  hardly  possible  not  to  see 
first  the  outline  of  his  gaunt  figure,  and  the  expression  of  his  sad,  homely 
face,  how  swiftly  the  eye  turns  from  these  to  those  great  qualities  of  mind 
and  soul  which  made  him  the  Preserver  of  his  country,  the  Emancipator  of  a 
race,  and  the  Martyr  of  Liberty.  And  so,  as  we  think  of  Harvard  or  Yale, 
of  Princeton  or  Dartmouth,  all  that  is  outward  and  material  about  them, 
though  entering  into  and  lending  a certain  coloring  to  each  picture,  is  soon 
lost  sight  of  in  the  effulgence  of  their  literary  history,  and  in  the  far-reaching 
influence  of  the  moral,  religious  and  philosophical  ideas  which  they  severally 
represent. 

Again : as,  in  an  analysis  of  the  true  strength  and  character  of  a man,  we 
take  notice  of  his  physical  organization  and  powers,  of  his  intellectual  capaci- 
ties and  culture,  and  of  the  moral  and  spiritual  plane  in  which  he  lives  and 
acts,  thereby  making  up  our  estimate  of  his  true  place  in  the  world  and 
among  men ; so  must  the  same  elements  be  considered  in  determining  the 
true  life,  strength,  influence  and  dignity  of  a college.  For  in  each  case  those 
elements  are  the  prime  factors  in  the  finished  products  of  life,  the  excellence 
and  beauty  of  which  depend  upon  the  fullness  and  harmony  with  which  all 
the  factors  have  been  in  co-operation. 

Thus,  however  rich  his  intellectual  gifts  and  lofty  his  moral  purposes,  he 
is  not  the  ideal  man,  either  of  reason  or  of  Scripture,  who  disregards  the 
well-being  of  his  physical  nature,  for  it  is  our  heavenly  Father’s  will  that  his 
children  should  be  healthy,  as  well  as  wise  and  holy ; again,  however  sound  in 
body  and  sanctified  in  heart,  he  is  not  a whole  man  whose  intellect  is  unstored 
with  the  treasures  of  knowledge — unadorned  with  the  jewels  of  culture;  and 
finally,  however  polished  the  intellect  and  stalwart  the  physical  frame,  he  has 
yet  to  lay  the  very  foundations  of  a worthy  manhood,  who  neglects  his 
spiritual  nature,  and  is  deaf  to  the  sweet  pleadings  of  the  heart  and  conscience. 
All  this,  without  extravagance,  may  be  said  of  a college.  Its  external  and 
material  interests  answer  to  the  body ; its  standard  methods  and  means  of 
culture,  to  the  intellect ; and  its  moral  and  religious  animus,  ideas  and  aims, 
to  the  heart  and  soul. 

In  the  spirit,  and  somewhat  in  the  direction  of  these  analogies,  I shall 
briefly  continue  my  remarks  on  this  occasion. 

The  financial  and  business  interests  of  a college  should  be  conducted  upon 
the  same  principles  of  integrity,  economy,  prudence  and  common  sense,  as 
obtain  in  the  affairs  of  every  well-regulated  commercial  or  other  strictly 
business  corporation.  Scrupulous  honor  and  fidelity  should  characterize  all 
its  transactions,  and  stainless  integrity  all  its  officers  and  agents.  Order  and 
system  should  mark  all  its  business  proceedings.  Every  transaction  should 
fully  and  clearly  appear  on  the  records.  Nothing  should  be  left  to  uncertainty 
or  guess-work,  or  be  allowed  to  drag  along  at  “loose  ends.”  Stated  reports, 
with  vouchers,  should  be  required  of  all  financial  officers  and  agents  of  the 


INAUGURAL  CEREMONIES. 


5 


corporation ; and  these  reports  should  not  be  assumed  to  be  correct,  and 
approved  without  due  examination,  but  referred  to  an  auditing  or  finance 
committee,  for  careful  scrutiny,  and  subsequent  report  thereon.  All  com- 
mittees should  be  composed  of  the  best  available  material  with  reference  to 
the  particular  work  to  be  done,  or  the  particular  interests  to  be  guarded  or 
subserved ; and  no  man  should  be  assigned  a place  upon  any  committee  for 
any  other  reason  than  his  supposed  fitness  for  the  duties  to  be  performed. 
Many  a corporation  has  been  financially  disgraced,  or  ruined,  or  both,  by  the 
incompetency,  indifference  or  neglect  of  important  committees ; and  college 
corporations  have  not  been  wholly  exempt  from  such  catastrophes. 

Evils  of  this  nature  creep  in  gradually  and  unawares.  It  takes  time  and 
care,  often  much  time  and  perplexing  care,  properly  to  examine  a complicated 
business  transaction  or  financial  statement.  Most  men  shrink  from  such 
painstaking  labor,  and  are  tempted  to  put  it  off,  or  to  perform  it  unthoroughly. 
The  person  making  the  report  or  statement  is  known  to  be  perfectly  honest 
and  upright,  and  so,  by  degrees,  reference  to  the  appropriate  committee 
becomes  a mere  matter  of  form ; no  examination  or  verification  deserving  the 
name,  is  had,  and  the  report  comes  back  approved.  For  a time  all  goes  well. 
But  some  fine  morning  the  corporation  is  startled  to  find  one  of  its  buildings 
destroyed  by  fire,  the  policy  of  insurance  on  which  had  been  suffered  to  lapse, 
or  had  been  taken  in  some  insolvent  company ; or  that  some  note  had  become 
depreciated  or  worthless,  by  the  unnoticed  failure,  removal,  flight  or  death  of 
the  securities  ; or  that  the  funds  are  locked  up  in  some  bank  of  mythical 
assets;  or  that  a cloud  has  been  permitted  to  settle  upon  the  title  to  some  of 
its  lands,  involving  a law  suit,  with  its  vexations  and  costs.  In  these  and 
many  other  ways  the  interests  of  college  corporations  may  suffer,  and  have 
suffered,  and  their  sacred  funds  may  be  imperiled,  reduced  or  lost,  by  a 
disregard  of  the  plain  and  necessary  precautions  referred  to. 

The  homely  truism  that  “business  is  business”  must  be  held  in  honor  by 
college  corporations,  precisely  as  by  others.  It  is  the  only  safe  and  right 
way.  Moreover,  no  faithful,  competent  and  thorough-going  business  man, 
officer  or  agent,  will  object  to  a watchful  scrutiny  and  rigid  supervision  of  his 
acts,  but  on  the  contrary  he  will  desire  and  solicit  investigation ; both  because 
he  knows  that  it  is  right  and  proper,  and  because  by  such  stated  examinations 
into  and  approvals  of  his  conduct,  his  personal  responsibility  is,  in  a sense, 
divided  and  lessened. 

Practical  wisdom  should  govern  in  the  selection  of  college  agents,  especially 
of  those  who  are  to  undertake  the  necessary  but  ungracious  and  difficult  task 
of  increasing  the  funds  and  endowments  of  the  institution.  It  is  hardly  to 
be  doubted  that  persons  have  been  assigned  to  this  delicate  work  whom  the 
respective  corporations  could  better  have  afforded  to  pay  for  inaction,  than  for 
actual  service.  Not  for  any  lack  of  zeal,  nor  even  of  intellectual  ability,  but 
only  for  their  conspicuous  lack  of  that  combination  of  practical  qualities  which, 
for  want  of  a better  term,  we  call  common  sense.  There  are  those  who  seem  to 
have  no  proper  discernment  of  the  fitness  of  things  ; who  speak  when  silence 
were  better,  and  are  dumb,  when  the  fitly  spoken  word  is  needed  ; who  take 
an  hour’s  set  speech  to  say  what  were  better  said  in  a few  moment’s  quiet 
conversation.  Poor  students  of  human  nature,  and  non-observant  of  the 
mental  habits  and  idiosyncrasies  belonging  to  different  pursuits  and  circum- 
stances, they  address  all  classes  and  conditions  of  people  in  about  the  same 
manner;  are  concise  and  logical  when  they  should  illustrate  and  amplify, 


6 


INAUGURAL  CEREMONIES. 


argumentative  when  exhortation  only  is  the  right  thing,  profound  and  learned 
where  the  utmost  simplicity  of  speech  is  required ; appealing  to  the  under 
standing  and  judgment  when  only  the  heart  and  conscience  need  to  be  touched  ; 
speaking  to  merchants,  bankers  and  railroad  men  as  to  theologians  and  scholars ; 
hindering,  not  helping  the  very  interests  which  they  most  sincerely  desire  to 
promote. 

The  claims  of  colleges  to  the  respectful  regard  and  generous  support  of  all 
classes  of  the  community,  are  so  obvious  and  clear,  so  high  and  strong,  and 
they  may  be  presented  in  a manner  so  simple  and  yet  so  unanswerable,  that  it 
is  always  a pity  when  the  wrong  men  are  chosen  to  do  it.  The  time  may  come 
when  institutions  so  beneficient,  so  freighted  with  grace  and  blessing  for  all 
the  people,  shall  no  more  need  thus  to  plead  in  behalf  of  their  unfilled 
treasuries,  (I  would  it  were  already  come),  but  that  glad  day  seems  yet  distant, 
and  till  it  comes  the  need  will  remain  of  much  practical  wisdom  in  the 
direction  indicated. 

College  corporations  no  less  than  others,  should  “pay  as  they  go.”  Debts 
should  not  be  contracted,  or  obligations  assumed,  for  the  prompt  and  honorable 
liquidation  of  which,  the  means  are  not  either  in  hand  or  in  sight.  Subject 
only  to  special  emergencies,  which  do  not  affect  the  principle,  this  rule  should 
be  adhered  to  at  all  hazards,  and  with  uncompromising  firmness,  Deliberate 
deviation  from  it  is  not  only  a palpable  infraction  of  the  primary  maxims  of 
commercial  prudence  and  honor,  but  an  equally  palpable  violation  of  the 
plainest  precepts  of  the  moral  code — the  direct  road  not  only  to  inevitable 
bankruptcy,  but,  which  is  infinitely  worse,  to  dishonor  and  shame. 

It  is  vain  to  plead  extenuating  circumstances.  There  is  but  one  beaten 
path  of  right  and  of  safety  in  this  matter — but  one  inexorable  financial  code, 
from  the  grasp  and  power  of  which  none  can  escape — none  ought  to  escape. 
The  man  whose  deliberately  planned  scale  of  expenditures  is  in  known  excess 
of  his  income,  must  stop,  and  face  the  other  way.  No  matter  what  cherished 
thing  has  to  be  given  up,  or  what  retrenchment  has  to  be  submitted  to,  in 
order  to  balance  the  account — it  must  be  done,  or  insolvency  and  disgrace  will 
soon  be  at  his  doors.  Just  so,  precisely,  is  it  with  college  corporations  ; the 
debit  and  credit  sides  of  their  books  must  be  made  to  balance,  be  the 
consequences  what  they  may.  Nothing  can  extirpate  from  the  public  mind 
the  conviction  that  men  who  cannot  or  will  not  manage  the  business  affairs  of 
an  institution  of  learning,  as  all  prudent  and  honorable  men  manage  their 
private  affairs,  in  this  respect,  are  unfitted  for  the  trust  reposed  in  them ; and 
it  is  not  possible  that  such  a sentiment  should  not  injuriously  affect  the  college 
itself,  in  all  its  work  and  interests.  On  the  other  hand,  well-earned  reputation 
for  prudent  financial  management,  is  a credit  to  an  institution,  the  good  effects 
of  which  can  scarcely  be  overestimated.  It  begets  respect  and  confidence.  It 
is  the  best  and  with  not  a few,  the  only  effective  argument  that  can  be  used 
where  the  question  of  funds  and  endowments  is  involved ; for  prudent  men 
will  not  entrust  more  money  to  those  who  have  shown  improvidence  or 
incapacity  in  handling  what  they  already  have.  And  it  removes  the  reproach 
to  which  the  history  of  educational  institutions  in  this  country  has  given  too 
much  color  of  truth,  that  literary  corporations,  men  of  letters  and  culture,  are 
poor  business  men  and  worse  financiers. 

To  secure  the  benefits  and  avoid  the  evils  just  adverted  to,  a wise  economy 
is  indispensable.  There  is  an  economy  that  is  the  reverse  of  wise.  Some 
things  are  essential  to  the  very  existence  of  a college ; as  much  so  as  air  and 


INAUGURAL  CEREMONIES. 


7 


food  to  the  maintenance  of  animal  life.  If  these  cannot  be  had,  the  case  is 
already  settled — a college  is  simply  impossible.  There  is  a point,  therefore, 
below  which  college  expenditures  cannot  by  any  possibility  be  carried.  If  the 
resources  of  the  institution  fall  below  this  point  in  spite  of  all  that  can  be 
done,  suspension,  temporary  or  permanent,  is  the  only  honorable  alternative. 
A corporation  that,  after  courageously  struggling  for  life,  succumbs  to  the 
inevitable,  rather  than  go  on,  sinking  deeper  and  deeper  in  debt,  will  at  least 
be  able  to  include  among  its  assets  the  undiminished  respect  of  the  public. 
A notable  instance  of  this  kind  will  recur  to  many,  an  important  institution 
being  now  about  to  resume  its  work  after  one  or  two  years  of  suspended 
animation,  during  which  its  finances  have  been  placed  upon  a sound  and 
substantial  basis.  But  the  instances  are  rare  indeed  where  an  institution, 
otherwise  prudently  managed,  is,  or  will  be,  obliged  to  close  its  doors  for  lack 
of  the  essential  bread  and  water  of  life ; though  it  must  be  admitted  that  now 
and  then  there  is  an  uncomfortable  short  allowance  even  of  that. 

It  is  in  unessentials,  in  things  not  absolutely  necessary  to  the  true  work  of 
the  institution,  that  economy  is  demanded.  Improvident  expenditures  of  this 
kind  have  been  the  road  to  insolvency,  down  whose  steps  many  an  institution 
has  gone,  and  many  more,  it  is  to  be  feared,  will  yet  go  despite  the  warning 
wrecks  that  strew  the  way. 

How  many  colleges  now  gasping  for  breath  and  faint  with  hunger,  might 
have  bread  enough  and  to  spare  but  for  the  thousands  of  dollars  imbedded  in 
superfluous  brick  and  stone,  or  lavished  upon  architectural  embellishments  and 
other  luxuries  of  art  and  taste.  How  many  have  come  to  want  and  grief  by 
attempting  to  rival  the  sumptuous  outfit  and  elegant  surroundings  and  costlv 
decorations,  of  older  and  richer  institutions. 

No  reasonable  man  appreciates  such  aesthetic  harmonies  and  congruities 
more  than  I do.  If  there  is  a spot  on  earth  over  which  it  were  meet  to  fling 
the  draperies  of  Attic  taste  and  classic  beauty,  and  around  which  to  gather 
the  symmetries  and  inspirations  of  high  art,  it  is  the  spot  consecrated  to 
learning  and  culture — the  buildings  and  grounds  of  the  Christian  college. 
But  “ the  life  is  more  than  meat,  and  the  body  than  raiment.”  While  the 
shelves  of  the  library  are  unfilled  with  needful  books,  the  walls  must  wait  for 
their  pictures  ; so  long  as  the  laboratory  and  apparatus  rooms  are  but  scantily 
supplied,  the  niches  and  pedestals  must  wait  for  their  busts  and  statues ; if 
the  class  rooms  are  not  comfortably  furnished,  the  floors  must  wait  for  their 
carpets,  and  the  ceilings  for  their  frescoes ; till  pleasant  and  attractive  dormi- 
tories are  in  good  supply,  the  Campus  must  do  without  the  landscape  gardener 
and  the  rural  engineer.  Till  all  the  essential  means  and  appliances  required 
to  build,  equip,  instruct  and  polish  the  intellect  of  the  students,  to  mature, 
ennoble  and  glorify  his  character,  and  send  him  forth  in  mental  and  moral 
strength,  are  well  in  hand,  the  college  must  forego  the  pleasure  of  putting  on 
hgr  garments  of  outward  grace  and  beauty.  The  body  may  go  in  homespun, 
but  there  must  be  fine  linen  for  the  soul. 

Colleges  are  a growth,  not  a creation.  If  the  great  elm  on  Boston 
Common  were  destroyed  to-day,  It  would  be  as  possible  to  duplicate  it  to-mor- 
row, by  artificial  means,  as  to  build,  to  order,  here  or  elsewhere,  a Yale  or  a 
1 1 arvard.  W ere  the  means  at  hand  to  re-produce  on  these  prairies  a fac-simile 
of  every  structure  in  the  college  Campus  of  New  Haven  or  Cambridge,  to 
duplicate  all  their  equipments  and  embellishments  within  and  without,  and  to 
secure  an  equally  numerous  and  distinguished  faculty — we  should  not  have 


£ 


INAUGURAL  CEREMONIES. 


another  Yale  or  Harvard.  The  living  soul  would  be  wanting;  the  fiery 
baptisms  of  trial  and  suffering  would  be  wanting ; the  long  line  of  historical 
traditions  would  be  wanting ; the  spirit  and  presence  of  vanished  generations 
would  not  haunt  and  hallow  the  place ; no  holy  memories  would  gather  about 
it ; no  august  and  shadowy  forms  would  seem  to  hover  near,  to  move  along  the 
halls  or  through  the  grounds  whispering  of  the  dead  ages  and  men  ; no 
centenary  ivy  would  cling  to  the  walls  ; no  moss-covered  memorials  of  a dim 
old  past  would  anywhere  meet  the  eye  or  touch  the  heart.  It  would  be  a 
deception  and  a mockery. 

One  college  may  be  planted  in  richer  soil  and  under  more  favorable 
circumstances  than  another;  may  be  responsive  to  a plainer  demand  and  call; 
may  have  more  and  stronger  friends  in  its  days  of  weakness  and  need  ; may 
be  more  wisely  planned  and  conducted,  and  so  may  advance  more  rapidly  and 
with  fewer  vicissitudes  and  perils,  toward  maturity  and  strength.  But  yet 
there  is  an  inevitable  law  of  college  life  and  growth  and  being,  from  which 
not  one  of  them  can  escape — nay,  escape  itself  if  possible,  would  be  a calamity. 
Adjuncts  and  conditions  may  vary,  but  by  no  human  device  or  power  can  the 
acorn  become  an  oak  in  a night,  or  the  child  pass  by  a step  into  manhood,  or 
a college  be  born  in  a day.  Nothing  can  set  aside  the  essential  conditions  out 
of  which,  in  due  time  only,  emerges  the  college.  What  these  conditions  are, 
may  be  seen  in  the  twin  figures  just  employed.  The  seed  must  be  planted,  in 
in  a befitting  place  and  soil ; it  must  germinate ; its  roots  and  rootlets  must 
take  hold  of  and  cling  to  the  earth ; showers  and  sunshine  must  reach  the 
hidden  thing  and  lift  it  to  life  and  light ; more  warmth  and  moisture  and  light 
must  cause  it  to  take  on  the  semblance  of  its  kind,  raising  it  day  by  day,  from 
the  earth  towards  the  skies,  supplying  all  its  needs  from  the  divine  chemistry 
of  nature,  evolving,  successively,  ramification,  leafage,  efflorescence  and 
fruitage,  till  with  its  myriad  roots  now  anchoring  it  as  with  iron  chains  to  the 
ground,  it  nods  and  swings  in  strength  and  glory  in  the  blasts  and  breezes  of 
the  upper  air,  “ a thing  of  beauty  and  a joy  forever.” 

And  what  were  manhood,  without  the  preparatory  stages  of  infancy, 
childhood  and  youth,  with  their  experiences,  glad  and  sad — their  struggles  and 
victories — their  disappointments  and  chasteuings — their  tears  and  prayers,  and 
hopes  and  fears — their  precious  legacy  of  many  memories.  The  very 
conception  of  a life  with  such  a hiatus  of  blankness  and  nothingness  yawning 
between  infancy  and  maturity,  filling  with  memoryless  silence  and  night  and 
void,  the  sweetest,  intensest  and  most  exquisite  and  prophetic  zone  of  mortal 
existence,  if  not  indeed  impossible,  is  cold  and  cheerless  and  weird — a sort  of 
hideous  Frankenstein,  rather  than  a man  with  beating  heart  and  loving  soul. 

In  these  illustrations  may  be  seen  my  idea  of  the  laws  and  conditions 
under  which,  alone,  a college  can  be.  It  is  a growth,  a development.  It  has 
its  stages  of  infancy,  youth  and  maturity.  It  has  its  own  struggles  and 
conflicts  to  pass  through,  its  own  battles  to  fight  and  win,  its  own  character  to 
establish  and  maintain,  its  own  work  to  do  and  its  own  destiny  to  accomplish. 
If  it  would  be  respected,  it  must  be  respectable ; if  it  would  have  the  public 
confidence,  it  must  show  itself  to  be  worthy  of  trust;  if  it  would  have 
endowments,  it  must  deserve  them  ; if  it  would  have  honor  and  prestige,  it 
must  earn  them.  It  must  stand  in  its  own  lot,  do  its  own  work,  achieve  its 
own  success.  If  worthy  to  live,  it  will  not  die.  If  found  faithful  in  little,  it 
will  be  entrusted  with  much.  If  it  do  its  work  well,  sooner  or  later  it  will 
have  work  enough  to  do. 


INAUGURAL  CEREMONIES. 


9 


By  singleness  of  heart  and  aim,  by  patience  and  faith,  in  friendship  and 
truth,  in  good  will  and  charity,  with  fidelity,  with  modesty,  without  envy  or 
jealousy  or  any  such  thing,  without  extravagance,  display  or  ostentation,  by 
a quiet,  unassuming  deportment,  by  devotion  to  duty,  by  a warm  and  genuine 
sympathy  with  all  who  are  struggling  for  an  education  in  the  face  of  poverty 
and  discouragements,  by  steadfast  continuance  in  well-doing  through  the  years 
of  weakness  and  hard  work  and  scanty  endowments — by  such  a spirit  and 
course  of  conduct  on  the  part  of  the  officers  and  faculty  of  a young  college, 
it  will  sooner  or  later  strike  its  roots  deep  into  the  soil  of  popular  regard, 
become  intrenched  in  the  affections  and  hearts  of  the  community,  grow 
stronger  and  nobler  year  by  year,  till  the  lonely  tree,  planted  in  faith  and 
watered  with  tears,  shall  lift  its  head  in  glory,  and  “ the  fruit  thereof  shall 
shake  like  Lebanon.” 

It  has  fallen  to  me  to  know  much  of  the  lives  and  labors  of  the  founders 
and  faculties  of  Christian  colleges,  especially  in  the  West,  and  you  will  permit 
me  to  say  that  for  courageous  endurance  in  darkness  and  storm,  for  multiplied 
burdens  cheerfully  borne,  for  steadfastness  of  faith  and  purpose  when  the 
heavens  seemed  brass  and  the  earth  iron,  for  self-abnegation  and  sacrifice,  for 
the  very  essence  and  pathos  of  moral  heroism — some  of  them  were,  and  are, 
worthier  of  apotheosis  than  many  a martyr  in  the  calendar  of  Saints. 
Spending  the  dew  of  their  youth  and  the  meridian  strength  of  their  manhood  in 
voluntary  obscurity  and  toil,  teaching  as  many  hours  in  the  day  as  the  common 
district  schoolmaster,  deprived  of  books  and  travel  and  other  helps  to  perfec* 
tion  and  distinction  in  their  several  departments  ; moral  leagues  in  advance 
of  the  average  sentiment  around  them  in  respect  to  the  nature,  methods  and 
uses  of  culture,  and  so  for  the  most  part,  in  an  uncongenial  atmosphere  and 
deprived  of  the  healthful  stimulus  of  sympathy — yet  working  on  and  holding 
on,  looking  for  the  dawn  that  came  not,  still  bearing  aloft  the  banner  of  light 
and  proclaiming  the  gospel  of  culture,  till  the  eye  of  youth  began  to  grow 
dim,  and  threads  of  gray  to  appear  in  the  once  fair  locks,  and  touches  of 
sadness  to  tinge  the  still  cheerful  tones  and  smiles,  as  the  shadows  of  life 
lengthened,  and  still  the  flush  of  the  looked-for  and  prayed-for  morning  that 
should  herald  the  new  day  of  the  college,  appeared  not — I have  seen  it  and 
know  it  all. 

But,  to  every  such  college  the  daybreak  will  surely  come  at  last.  To  not 
a few  it  has  already  come  ; by  others,  the  carol  of  the  lark  is  even  now  heard 
in  the  brightening  firmament  above  them,  and  the  light  comes  on  apace. 
And  when  these  colleges,  exalted  and  purified  by  trial,  emerge  from  the 
wilderness,  put  on  their  robes  of  'strength  as  well  as  of  beauty,  and,  with  songs 
of  victory,  gird  themselves  for  the  grander  future  that  opens  before  them, 
then  will  the  darkness  and  sorrow  of  those  early  years  be  but  the  background 
of  the  historical  canvass,  setting  in  bolder  relief  the  brightness  aud  glory  of 
the  present.  • , 

A precious  legacy  then  will  be  that  record  of  the  devotion,  fortitude  and 
heroism  of  those  early  professors  and  teachers  and  friends.  It  will  be  spoken 
of  and  cherished,  as  soldiers,  when  the  war  is  over,  cherish  mementoes  of  the 
weary  campaign,  the  march  and  the  battle.  That  record,  in  time,  will  softly 
blend  with  the  moral  colors  that  tinge  the  warp  and  woof  of  the  inner  life  of 
the  college;  it  will  pass  into  all  its  reminiscences  and  traditions;  it  will  stand 
in  lieu  of  the  ivied  walls  and  moss-grown  memorials  which  hallow  the  grounds 
of  the  elder  universities,  binding  in  closer  and  tenderer  bonds  the  hearts  of 


10 


INAUGURAL  CEREMONIES. 


its  alumni.  It  will  be  a precious  and  blessed  inheritance — an  aureola  of  light 
and  glory  forever. 

Of  the  proper  functions  of  the  college,  but  little  need  be  said.  The 
ground  has  been  traversed  so  often  and  so  thoroughly,  and  such  substantial 
agreement  has  been  reached  upon  all  the  main  questions  involved,  that  it  may 
suffice  merely  to  re-state  the  essence  of  this  common  judgment.  It  is  held, 
then,  comprehensively,  that  the  distinctive  ministry  of  the  college,  from  the 
present  point  of  view,  is  to  lay  foundations , to  unfold  principles,  to  teach  the 
student  the  true  nature  and  use  of  his  mental  and  moral  powers  and  laculties, 
to  give  him  the  keys  of  all  knowledge  and  put  him  in  the  right  road  to 
success  in  every  department  of  human  learning. 

This,  I think,  fairly  summarizes  the  views  now  held  by  the  best  thinkers 
and  scholars  upon  this  initial  and  fundamental  point,  and  it  may  properly  be 
taken  as  the  substantially  concurrent  reply  of  modern  thought  to  the  question 
of  function. 

As  a logical  sequence  of  this  common  acceptance  of  the  doctriuc  of  func- 
tion, as  just  stated,  the  proper  conditions  of  admission  to  college,  have  been 
agreed  upon  and  settled  with  scarcely  less  substantial  unanimity.  True, 
there  are  marked  diversities  of  opinion  and  practice  as  to  particulars,  but  not 
as  to  the  aggregate  of  qualifications  to  be  required  of  candidates.  For  all  see 
that  no  one  can  be  prepared  to  deal  with  the  subjects  of  the  college  course, 
ideas,  laws,  principles,  generalizations,  who  has  not  already  mastered  the 
rudiments  of  knowledge  pertaining  and  leading  thereto,  and  that  to  about  the 
same  degree. 

At  the  college  doors,  however,  disagreement  begins.  Concurring  as  to 
the  chief  distinctive  ends  to  be  attained  by  the  college  course,  and  as  to  the 
average  preliminary  requisites — touching  some  of  the  instrumentalities  best 
fitted  to  secure  those  ends,  there  is  not  entire  concurrence.  This  difference 
of  opinion  relates  mainly  to  the  relative  place  and  value  that  should  be 
assigned  to  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages  in  a scheme  of  liberal  education. 
Into  the  merits  of  this  question  I shall  not  enter  at  all,  at  this  time,  but 
dismiss  it  with  the  single  remark  that  after  a somewhat  careful  notice  of  the 
progress  of  the  discussion  on  both  sides  of  the  issue,  and  on  both  sides  of  the 
sea,  and  a careful  study  of  the  facts  of  experience  and  observation,  my  own 
faith  in  the  superior  excellence  and  effectiveness  of  those  languages  as  instru- 
ments of  culture,  and  in  their  great  practical  utility  in  other  respects,  remains 
not  only  unshaken,  but  increased. 

If  my  conception  of  the  true  functions  and  sphere  of  colleges  is  correct,  it 
seems  to  follow  that  the  liberty  of  choice  in  studies  should  be  granted  with 
much  caution  and  circumspection.  We  believe  and  claim  that  the  college 
course  has  in  view  certain  well-defined  ends  and  aims,  and  that  to  secure  the 
attainment  of  those  ends  a certain  line  of  studies,  commonly  designated  as  the 
college  curriculum,  is  the  best.  We  further  hold  that  this  system  of  means 
and  ends  is  not  an  arbitrary  or  ill-digested  scheme,  but  the  long  tried  and 
carefully  matured  plan  of  the  ages — that  to  it  has  been  given  the  best  thought 
and  the  ripest  judgment  of  the  most  eminent  teachers  and  scholars  of  the 
world.  If  this  be  so,  the  wisdom  of  permitting  a freedom  the  exercise  of 
which  may  imperil  or  defeat  the  cardinal  purposes  of  the  course,  may  well  be 
doubted.  I am,  therefore,  unable  to  avoid  the  conclusion  that  ail  of  those 
studies  which  are  believed  to  be  essential  to  the  complete  realization  of  the 
historic  idea  of  liberal  culture,  as  that  idea  has  been  elaborated  and  formulated 


INAUGURAL  CEREMONIES. 


11 


in  the  present  established  college  course,  should  be  required , and  that  all 
elective  or  optional  studies  should  be  beyond  or  outside  ot‘  those  well-defined 
boundaries.  The  deliberate  wisdom  of  generations  may  justly  claim  respect 
as  to  the  the  best  instruments  and  processes  by  which  to  achieve  that  general 
training  which  is  a condition  precedent  to  highest  success  in  any  pursuit. 

When  the  student  enters  a university,  or  a professional  or  post-graduate 
course,  the  case  is  wholly  changed  ; for  the  supposition  then  is  that  the 
appropriate  work  of  the  college  has  already  been  performed — that  the  needf  ul 
foundations  have  been  laid — and  it  is  of  course  the  absolute  right  of  every 
one  to  decide  for  himself  what  superstructure  he  will  rear  upon  those  foun- 
dations. 

The  relations  of  colleges  to  each  other  should  be  sincerely  fraternal  and 
sympathetic.  Engaged  in  the  same  ennobling  work,  drinking  from  the  same 
clear  fountains,  and  quickened  by  the  same  inspirations,  they  should  see,  eye 
to  eye,  heartily  rejoice  in  each  other’s  wellfare,  and  in  loving  confidence  toil 
on,  shoulder  to  shoulder.  Leaving  envy  and  jealousy  to  the  weak  and  the 
wicked,  they  should  each  be  emulous  only  of  the  honor  of  doing  its  own 
work  the  best ; for  in  such  a contest  there  is  no  bitterness,  and  can  be  no 
defeat — the  very  striving  for  such  an  end  is  itself  a victory.  If  earth  has  a 
spectacle  to  amaze  and  sadden  the  beholder,  it  is  that  of  citadels  of  religion 
and  learning  training  their  artillery  upon  each  other ; and  if  there  is  a sight 
to  stir  and  gladden  the  soul,  it  is  when  with  one  accord,  and  with  shout 
answering  shout,  the  great  guns  of  all  the  moral  and  literary  fortresses  in  the 
land,  pour  their  concentrated  fire  upon  the  columns  of  ignorance  and  sin. 

Colleges  should  also  be  in  pronounced  sympathy  and  hearty  co-operation 
with  all  the  genuine  educational  enterprises  and  movements  of  our  country 
and  our  age,  especially  with  public  education  and  common  schools.  For  colleges 
are  the  indubitable  progenitors  of  free  schools.  The  idea  of  which  they  were 
born,  came  from  the  Christian  Colleges  of  New  England.  No  other  fact  in 
our  educational  history  as  a nation,  is  more  absolutely  and  irrefragably  true. 
The  old  thirteen  colonies  were  not  more  certainly  of  British  lineage,  than  are 
the  free  schools  of  the  United  States'  the  offspring  of  the  religious  ideas, 
learning  and  faith  of  the  men  who  founded  and  fostered  our  elder  colleges. 

It  is  not  only  historically  true  that  the  American  College  System  was  and 
is  the  parent  of  the  American  free  school  system,  but  it  is  also  morally  and 
logically  impossible  that  the  latter  could  have  come  into  being  without  the 
former.  Sound  learning  and  a pure  faith  were  the  prime  factors  of  which 
Harvard  and  Yale  and  Princeton  were  at  once  the  products  and  the  exponents, 
and  out  of  the  loins  of  the  same  two  elements  sprang  the  free  schools.  All 
best  things  come  from  above.  That  is  the  law  in  the  kingdoms  of  mind  and 
spirit  as  well  as  those  of  matter.  The  rains  descend  from  the  clouds  of  heaven. 
The  light  and  warmth  that  garland  the  earth  with  flowers  and  hang  the  woods 
with  draperies  of  green,  come  down  from  the  sun.  So  Christian  colleges  are 
the  fountains  gushing  from  the  mountain-side,  whence  flow  down  life-giving 
streams  to  refresh  and  beautify  all  the  moral  plains  and  valleys  of  life.  Not 
more  dependent  are  the  rivers  upon  the  melting  snows  and  perennial  springs 
of  the  far-off  summits,  or  the  myriad  households  of  a great  city  upon  the 
exhaustless  supplies  of  the  reservoir,  than  are  the  lower  forms  of  education  to 
the  higher — the  innumerable  conduits  leading  to  every  district  school  house, 
to  the.  great  mains  from  which  they  are  replenished.  Dry  up  the  fountains 
and  springs,  or  tear  down  the  reservoir,  and  drouth  and  desolation  will  come, 
sooner  or  later,  in  the  one  case  as  surely  as  in  the  other. 


12 


INAUGURAL  CEREMONIES. 


If  these  facts  are  sometimes  forgotten,  or  even  denied,  by  those  who  as 
beneficiaries  should  be  most  grateful,  it  is  but  natural.  For,  to  the  multitude, 
the  mountain  springs  whence  the  rills  come  bubbling  and  sparkling  to  their 
doors,  are  unseen  and  unknown.  But  from  those  who  are  familiar  with  these 
relations  of  cause  and  effect,  who  look  down  upon  these  fertilizing  streams  and 
smiling  landscapes,  only  anthems  of  gladness  and  praise  should  be  heard. 
These  are  the  relations  which  I would  see  all  our  colleges  sustain  to  the 
common  schools,  which,  I need  not  say  to  this  audience,  1 regard  as  the 
noblest  legacy  bequeathed  by  Christian  learning  to  the  nation  and  the  age.  If 
I were  seeking  the  highest  welfare  and  prosperity  of  the  colleges  themselves, 
I would  ask  for  the  best  possible  free  school  systems,  the  highest  attainable 
excellence  of  all  the  grades  of  schools,  and  the  largest  possible  attendance 
thereat.  We  are  all  striving  to  push  back  as  far  as  possible  the  twin  forces 
of  ignorance  and  vice,  and  to  keep  them  back,  and  it  matters  not  in  what  part 
of  the  line  we  are  posted,  whether  in  college  halls  or  wayside  school-houses, 
only  as  we  do  our  work  well  shall  we  deserve  honor. 

The  friends  of  liberal  learning  must  have  observed  with  concern  the  steadily 
increasing  cost  of  a college  education.  In  many  of  our  leading  colleges  the 
average  expense  has  more  than  doubled  in  the  last  twenty-five  years.  True, 
the  facilities  and  consequent  value  of  the  instruction  afforded  in  those  institu- 
tions, have  also  been  much  enhanced  during  the  same  period.  But  that  the 
additional  benefits  have  kept  pace  with  the  increased  expense,  I do  not 
believe — some  other  solution  must  be  sought. 

It  is  undeniably  true  that  in  considering  to  what  college  he  will  go,  many 
a young  man  is  now  compelled  to  omit  from  the  list  several  very  eminent  and 
most  excellent  institutions,  on  the  ground  of  expense  alone.  Young  men  of 
scanty  means  are  either  excluded,  outright,  from  these  colleges,  because 
unable  to  pay  the  bills,  or  if  they  venture  to  enter,  they  are  subjected  to  the 
torture  of  a silent  but  no  less  cutting  ostracism  for  no  other  reason  than  their 
inability  to  spend  money  as  freely  as  others,  or  the  necessity  of  practising  a 
rigid  economy.  And  so  it  has  come  to  pass  that  this  pre-eminently  desirable 
class  of  students  has  been,  to  an  unfortunate  extent,  eliminated  from  the  rolls 
of  those  institutions. 

College  expenses  may  become  practically  prohibitive  to  this  class  of  young 
men,  without  any  formal  action  of  the  authorities,  or  any  change  in  the  fees 
and  term  bills.  Extravagant  social  customs  may  be  allowed  to  grow  up 
among  the  students  ; class  and  society  usages  may  impose  their  unwritten  but 
imperative  burdens  upon  the  members ; costly  peculiarities  of  dress  and  other 
personal  habits  and  accessories,  may  assume  the  form  of  social  laws,  not  to  be 
evaded  or  infringed ; other  elegant  and  expensive  usages  and  practices  may 
gradually  creep  in,  and  become  the  settled  order  of  college  life.  True,  all 
these  things  are  wholly  outside  of  college  requirements,  and,  in  a sense, 
matters  of  class  or  individual  option.  But  we  all  know  how  mandatory  and 
even  despotic  social  customs  may  become,  especially  in  college  communities, 
in  some  respects  the  most  unique  and  peculiar  in  the  world.  So  intensely 
true  is  this,  that  in  some  institutions  it  would  scarcely  require  greater 
temerity,  or  involve  more  serious  personal  consequences,  for  a student  to  defy 
a written  college  law,  than  one  of  those  unwritten  but  most  exacting  class  or 
college  customs.  If  these  tendencies  to  lavish  expenditures  of  money  are  not 
earnestly  discountenanced,  instead  of  being  not  seldom  tacitly  encouraged  ; 
and  especially  if  there  be  that  in  the  tone  and  spirit,  the  air  and  bearing,  of 


INAUGURAL  CEREMONIES. 


13 


the  college  regime  itself,  which  affords  a color  of  approval — then,  not  if  such 
costly  usages  were  enjoined  by  the  college  ordinances,  would  the  sons  of  the 
indigent  be  more  effectually  excluded  from  those  institutions. 

Such  facts  and  tendencies  cannot  be  too  profoundly  regretted  or  too 
earnestly  deprecated.  They  are  contrary  to  the  genius  and  intent  of  the 
American  college.  They  foster  notions  and  practices  at  war  with  the  spirit 
and  traditions  of  our  venerated  college  fathers,  and  with  the  simplicity  of  our 
republican  ideas.  They  divert  the  thoughts  from  college  work  and  duties  to 
an  injurious  extent.  They  foster  habits  of  no  benefit  to  any,  and  to  some 
exceedingly  pernicious.  But,  more  than  all,  they  effectually  shut  out  and 
turn  back  hundreds  of  young  men  who  would  gladly  enter  college,  but  who 
cannot  spend  so  much  money,  and  will  not  submit  to  the  inevitable  conse- 
quences of  non-compliance  with  established  college  customs. 

I cannot  easily  express  my  sense  of  the  magnitude  of  this  evil.  It  is 
deplorable  in  $very  aspect — in  itself  and  in  its  effects.  While  colleges  are  for 
all,  without  distinction,  and  all  are  equally  welcome  ; and  while  the  priceless 
boon  of  a true  culture  is  intrinsically  the  same  to  rich  and  poor,  there  is  a 
sense  in  which  a liberal  education  is  the  especial  hope  and  refuge  of  the 
indigent.  It  more  than  compensates  their  lack  of  the  gifts  of  fortune.  It 
breaks  down  otherwise  insurmountable  barriers.  It  builds  for  them  a high- 
way. It  opens  to  them  glad  visions  of  usefulness  and  honor.  It  helps  to 
equalize  their  chances  in  the  race  and  battle  of  life.  It  reduplicates  their 
resources.  It  lifts  them  to  higher  planes  of  life,  to  Pisgah-tops  whence  Yhey 
may  look  over  into  the  promised  land.  It  not  only  multiplies  the  avenues  by 
which  they  may  achieve  success  and  honor,  but,  which  is  far  better,  opens 
their  eyes  to  the  nature  and  conditions  of  a truly  worthy  and  successful  life. 
All  this  it  does,  of  course,  just  the  same,  for  the  sons  of  the  opulent  and  the 
more  favored  of  fortune.  But  while  to  the  latter,  the  college  course  but  adds 
to  advantages  already  possessed,  to  the  former,  viewing  the  case  from  the 
personal  and  material  side,  it  is  the  sine  qua  non. 

College  halls  should  be  accessible  to  these  young  men ; college  customs 
should  not  repel  them ; college  practices  should  not  deter  them ; lavish 
expenditures  should  not  keep  them  away ; exclusiveness  should  not  warn  them 
off;  aristocratic  notions  should  not  intimidate  them;  the  atmosphere  of  the 
place  should  not  chill  them.  By  the  simple,  quiet,  unostentatious  and  inex- 
pensive habits  and  manners  of  all  connected  with  the  institution ; by  the 
modest,  cheerful  and  wholesome  tone  of  the  whole  college  regime ; by  the 
manifest  supremacy,  in  all  things,  of  the  true  intent  and  spirit  of  college  life 
and  work,  and  the  subordination  of  all  else — by  these  means,  and  others  of 
like  nature,  so  accordant  with  all  the  purposes  and  traditions  of  Christian 
colleges  in  this  plain,  republican  country,  the  gifted  sons  of  the  indigent 
should  be  drawn  to  us,  by  an  irresistible  attraction,  and  made  contented  and 
happy  when  they  come  and  while  they  stay.  If  I seem  to  emphasize  this 
point,  it  is  because  I have  deep  feelings  and  strong  convictions  in  regard  to  it. 
I am  in  especial  sympathy  with  these  young  men.  I know  them — their 
stuggles,  aspirations  and  hopes.  I am  of  them,  and  with  them,  and  so  long 
as  L am  here,  I intend,  so  far  as  in  me  lies,  that  they  shall  feel  at  home  in 
Knox  College. 

Touching  the  inner  life,  the  soul  and  spirit,  the  heart  of  a college,  its 
essential  attitudes  and  character  in  a moral  and  religious  sense — it  should,  in 
my  judgment,  be  simply  Christian , in  the  grand,  Catholic,  gospel  acceptation 


14 


INAUGURAL  CEREMONIES. 


of  that  term — no  more,  no  less.  The  legend  upon  its  banner  should  be : 
Religion  and  Learning — Christ  and  Culture.  For,  in  those  two  words, 
taken  in  their  comprehensive  sense,  is  enfolded  the  essence  of  both  the  earthly 
and  heavenly  life — the  elements  of  man’s  present  duty  and  happiness  and  joy, 
and  of  his  immortal  destiny  and  glory.  The  one  comprehends  all  that 
pertains  to  his  spiritual  nature,  the  other  all  that  concerns  him  as  a rational 
intelligent  being.  The  one  links  him  in  blessed  fellowship  with  the  pure  in 
heart,  the  other  with  the  brotherhood  of  the  wise  and  cultured.  The  one 
anchors  the  soul,  in  rest  and  peace  in  the  haven  of  faith  ; the  other  gives 
wings  to  thought  and  lifts  the  mind  to  mountain  summits  of  knowledge  and 
contemplation.  The  one  leads  to  knowledge  of  God  through  his  word,  the 
other  to  the  same  knowledge  through  his  works.  The  one  goes  down  into 
the  still  sanctuaries  of  the  heart  and  conscience,  breathing  into  them  a divine 
love  and  tenderness,  and  filling  them  with  joys  that  are  unspeakable  and  full 
of  glory ; the  other  takes  him  to  the  sublime  places  whence  be  may  survey 
the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  and  their  glory.  The  one  leads  him  forth  to  the 
fields  of  earthly  lore  and  art  and  genius — to  the  fountains  of  eloquence,  poetry 
and  song — the  other  into  the  green  pastures  and  beside  the  still  waters  of  the 
River  of  Life.  The  one  plants  his  feet  upon  the  immutable  principia  of  the 
intellectual  and  physical  universe,  the  other  sets  them  in  everlasting  security 
upon  the  “Rock  of  Ages.”  The  one  brings  the  noble  delights  of  mental 
conflicts  and  victories ; the  other  the  grander  triumph  of  a renewed  life  and 
the  ineffable  blessedness  of  a soul  at  peace  with  God.  The  one  adds  beaut)r 
and  radiance  to  life,  the  other  brightens  the  dark  valley  of  the  shadow  of 
death.  Without  culture  a man  is  blind  in  a world  of  beauty,  deaf  in  a world 
of  song,  insensible  in  a world  of  sublimity  and  pathos  ; wit  hout  religion,  he  is 
a “lost  pleiad,”  a wandering  star,  out  of  his  spiritual  orbit,  out  of  harmony 
with  the  rhythmic  forces  of  the  moral  and  spiritual  universe,  drifting  alone  in 
a sunless  firmament.  With  both , he  is  whole  and  complete,  “m  seipso  totus 
teres  atque  rotundusC  in  a sense  infinitely  grander  than  it  even  entered  into 
the  mind  of  Horace  to  conceive. 

Is  not  this  enough?  The  kingdoms  of  Christ  and  of  culture  are  co- 
extensive and  conterminous.  The  world,  from  pole  to  pole  and  from  sea  to 
sea,  is  their  domain.  Man,  in  all  his  races  and  conditions,  is  their  subject. 
The  mission  of  culture  is  to  every  darkened  intellect  among  the  sons  of  men ; 
and  for  every  sinful,  burdened  soul,  from  the  rivers  to  the  ends  of  the  earth, 
is  the  love  of  Christ. 

Into  the  life-giving  spirit  of  these  truths  I would  see  all  our  Christian 
colleges  baptized ; upon  the  living  stones  of  these  sure  and  catholic  founda- 
tions, I would  see  them  established ; along  these  broad  and  sunlit  highways  I 
would  see  them  all  go  forward,  down  the  ages,  conquering  and  to  conquer. 
Believing  this  to  be  their  high  commission,  I would  see  them  serve  under  no 
other ; regarding  these  as  their  true  marching  orders,  I would  see  them  obey 
no  others.  This  is  the  atmosphere  I would  have  pervade  college  halls  and 
class-rooms,  breathe  through  chapel  and  campus,  and  penetrate  all  the 
recesses  of  college  life.  This  is  the  moral  and  religious  oxygen  that  I would 
see  infused  into  all  the  work  of  instruction,  and  giving  tone  and  character  to 
all  the  subjects  of  its  training.  True  to  these  principles,  keeping  within  the 
orbit  of  these  gracious  aims  and  purposes,  the  Christian  college  owes  no  other 
allegiance  and  should  need  no  other  alliances. 

There  is  no  other  freedom  like  that  wherewith  God  in  Christ  makes  his 


INAUGURAL  CEREMONIES. 


15 


children  free ; and  like  to  it  is  the  freedom)  wherewith  it  is  the  province  of 
culture  to  enfranchise  the  soul.  The  presence  and  power  of  this  sweet 
invigorating  spirit  of  liberty,  I would  have  every  student  feel,  from  the  hour 
he  enters  the  college  precincts,  till  he  quits  them  for  the  scenes  of  active  life. 
Not  license,  but  the  glad  sense  of  dwelling  in  an  atmosphere  composed  only  of 
the  original  elements  of  truth,  earthly  and  heavenly ; of  being  environed  by 
uplifting  mental  and  spiritual  forces ; of  feeling  himself  in  the  best  possible 
conditions  for  studying  the  works  of  God  and  of  men,  and  for  beholding  the 
beauty  and  glory  of  the  truth,  both  as  it  is  in  nature,  and  as  it  is  in  Jesus — 
that  nothing  less  supreme  than  God,  or  less  infallible  than  his  word  is  to 
challenge  the  reverent  faith  and  allegiance  of  his  soul. 

As  the  child  only  knows,  and  only  cares  to  know,  that  his  mother  is  pure 
and  good,  tender,  loving  and  true ; and  that  his  father  is  wise  and  just,  noble 
and  upright — so  in  this  direction,  would  I have  the  student  simply  know  and 
feel  that  his  teachers  are  Christian  gentlemen,  and  never  have  cause  to  think 
of  them  as  anything  else.  While  he  should  have  no  more  doubt  on  this 
point  than  the  child  has  of  its  mother’s  love,  it  should  no  more  occur  to  him 
to  think  of  Prof.  A.  as  of  Paul,  Prof.  B.  as  of  Apollos,  and  Prof.  C.  as  of 
Cephas,  than  to  the  happy  child  to  think  of  its  father  as  of  English  lineage, 
and  its  mother  as  of  Scotch.  As  that  father’s  and  mother’s  good,  loving 
heart,  is  the  all  in  all  to  the  child,  so  is  it  enough  for  the  student  to  know 
that  all  his  teachers  are  one  in  Christ. 

Even  so  would  I have  the  moral  and  religious  influences  of  the  college 
sweet  and  wholesome,  pure  and  bracing ; pronounced  and  decided,  yet  without 
austerity  or  gloom ; steady  and  uniform  as  the  procession  of  the  hours,  yet 
bright  and  cheerful  as  the  light ; a perpetual,  though  almost  unconscious, 
mental  and  spiritual  tonic ; ubiquitous  and  pervasive  as  the  atmosphere,  and 
as  invisible  and  free ; redolent  of  heavenly  aromas,  and  vocal  with  the 
minstrelsies  of  a simple  and  blessed  worship ; lifting  the  soul,  day  by  day, 
towards  the  divine  and  infinite.  In  such  an  atmosphere  I should  hope  to  see 
every  student  grow  up  into  a noble  Christian  manhood.  If  not  under  such 
influences,  I know  not  under  what  other  such  a result  may  be  expected. 

I am  profoundly  convinced  that  this  is  the  true  foundation  for  Christian 
colleges,  in  the  matter  now  under  consideration — that  it  is  the  noblest  and 
worthiest,  and  that  in  the  future,  if  not  now,  it  will  be  the  elect  and  precious 
corner-stone  of  them  all — the  final  rock  on  which  shall  abide  that  resplendent 
fabric  of  liberal  culture,  against  which  the  storms  and  strifes  of  men  shall 
prevail  no  more  forever. 

Gentlemen  of  the  Board  of  Trustees : God  only  knows  with  what  fear  and 
shrinking  I have  come  to  this  hour.  Whoever  may  doubt  my  fitness  for  this 
work,  his  doubts  cannot  equal  my  own.  If  even  now  I might  draw  back  from 
this  great  responsibility,  and  turn  away  from  this  place,  it  would  be  with  a 
lighter  heart  than  I have  known  since  I have  accepted  the  trust  at  your  hands. 
Nothing  would  be  so  sweet  and  congenial  to  me  as  the  retirement  and  tran- 
quility of  private  life.  In  comparison  with  that,  there  is  no  earthly  trust  or 
honor  that  l would  not  gladly  push  aside,  if  [ could  and  might.  This  is  the 
truth,  and  I say  it  frankly,  standing  here  upon  the  threshold  of  these  untried 
duties. 

I say  these  things  not  because  1 lightly  esteem  the  work  you  have  given 
me  to  do,  or  the  dignity  of  the  office  I am  about  to  assume — just  the  reverse. 
That  work,  in  my  conception  of  it,  towers  before  me  in  magnitude  and  grandeur, 


16 


INAUGURAL  CEREMONIES. 


and  I know  that  upon  him  to  whom  it  shall  be  given  to  do  it  well,  will  descend 
benedictions  more  precious  than  praise,  a reward  brighter  than  coronal  of  glory. 
But  who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ? Not  light  nor  few  have  been  my  labors 
in  the  past,  but  none  of  them  were  undertaken  with  the  diffidence  that  now 
oppresses  me. 

It  seems  almost  like  an  intrusion  to  stand  in  this  place.  Other  men  for 
weary  years,  have  labored,  and  I am  to  enter  into  their  labors.  The  founda- 
tions of  Knox  College  were  laid,  long  ago,  by  men  of  faith  and  prayer,  of 
culture  and  power.  Some  of  them  remain,  others  have  entered  into  rest ; one 
so  recently  that  it  is  hard  to  realize  that  his  familiar  form  will  not  again  be 
seen,  and  his  -voice  heard,  in  our  assemblies  and  councils.  I had  counted 
much  upon  his  wisdom  and  experience,  his  ripened  judgment,  his  loving  fidelity 
to  the  college  and  his  intimate  acquaintance  with  all  its  history.  The  greatness 
of  the  loss  we  have  sustained,  you  who  knew  him  so  long  and  well,  can  best 
appreciate. 

Within  the  sound  of  my  voice  are  doubtless  some  who  have  been  identified 
with  the  whole  eventful  history  of  this  college,  from  the  first  conference  of  its 
founders,  at  Whitesboro’,  New  York,  in  1836,  until  now.  For  nearly  four 
decades,  they  have  watched,  and  waited,  and  prayed  for  the  prosperity  of  this 
institution.  They  have  witnessed  its  struggles  and  conquests,  its  triumphs 
and  defeats.  Every  ordeal  through  which  it  has  passed  has  but  endeared  it  to 
their  hearts — every  trial  has  but  linked  them  the  more  closely  to  its  fortunes. 
With  all  my  honored  predecessors  they  have  taken  counsel,  and  in  the  galleries 
of  their  memory  hang  sacred  portraits  of  good  and  honorable  men,  who,  with 
them,  bore  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day,  and  now  rest  from  their  labors. 
With  these  visions  of  the  past,  what  wonder  if  these  veterans  of  Knox,  seeing 
a stranger  about  to  stand  in  this  consecrated  place,  should  be  tempted  to  say  : 
“ We  know  that  God  spake  unto  Moses:  as  for  this  fellow,  we  know  not  from 
whence  he  is.”  Whether  the  thoughts  of  any  take  on  this  shape  and  form  or 
not,  it  is  hut  natural  that  some  such  feelings  should  arise,  and  I have  no  doubt 
they  do. 

And  the  men  and  women  of  this  beautiful  little  city,  which  owes  its  very 
birth  and  name  and  life  and  prestige  to  the  College,  how  can  they  be  indiffer 
ent  observers  of  this  day’s  transactions.  If  not  so  directly  in  the  future  as  in 
the  past,  still,  in  years  to  come  as  well  as  those  that  are  gone,  Knox  College 
and  Galesburg  will  be  closely  allied  in  interest,  association  and  destiny.  The 
name  of  one  will  continue  to  suggest  that  of  the  other — the  prosperity  of  one 
will  affect  that  of  the  other. 

Then  there  are  the  citizens  of  the  surrounding  communities,  the  numerous 
families  which  came  hither  from  Eastern  homes,  accompanying  or  following 
the  college  band — coming  because  the  college  was  to  be  here  established.  To 
all  these,  and  their  descendants,  the  welfare  of  Knox  college  cannot  be  a 
matter  of  indifference. 

A still  wider  circle  will  be  affected,  in  some  faint  degree,  at  least,  for  better 
or  worse,  by  the  act  of  the  trustees,  to  consumate  which  we  are  now  convened. 

A seat  of  learning  like  this  cannot  abide  in  obscurity  and  isolation.  It 
has  an  individuality  and  character  of  its  own,  a kind  of  personality,  the 
diffusive  influence  and  force  of  which  will  be  felt,  more  or  less,  and  for  good 
or  evil,  in  all  the  region  around — just  as  the  personality  and  character  of 
many  a citizen  of  Galesburg  are  felt  to  the  limits  of  Knox  County,  and  far 
beyond.  The  unconscious  influence  of  a strong  and  good  man,  is  wonderfully 


INAUGURAL  CEREMONIES. 


17 


pervasive  and  potential.  Multitudes  feel  it,  are  affected  by  it,  are  even  shaped 
in  material  or  moral  destiny  by  it,  who  have  never  seen  the  face  of  the  man — 
possibly  have  never  even  heard  his  name.  So  is  it,  in  greatly  enhanced  meas- 
ure, with  an  earnest,  vigorous,  high-toned  institution  of  learning.  The 
concentric  circles  of  its  influence  will  inevitably  reach  far  beyond  the  spot 
where  it  stands,  as  the  wavelets  stirred  by  the  falling  pebble,  roll  outward  and 
onward  till  they  break  in  murmurs  on  remotest  shores.  In  this  sense,  if  in 
no  other  Knox  County,  and  this  entire  region  of  country,  in  some  respects 
the  very  finest  in  the  whole  State,  are  interested  in  what  we  do  to-day. 

The  Sisterhood  of  American  Colleges,  too,  cannot  be  indifferent  to  anything 
that  affects  the  welfare  and  honor  of  one  of  their  number.  Linked  in  love 
and  friendship,  clasping  hands  in  unity  of  purpose,  these  Christian  colleges 
call  to  each  other  across  the  continent,  from  State  to  State,  and  from  sea  to 
sea:  “Watchman  what  of  the  night?”  However  humble  and  insignificant  in 
themselves  these  proceedings  of  ours  may  be,  therefore,  they  yet  touch  cords 
which  vibrate  along  the  whole  line — however  modest  the  proportions  of  this 
goodly  tree  of  ours,  its  branches  interlace  with  those  of  others  of  like  nature, 
and  these  again  with  others,  so  that  the  force  which  stirs  the  foliage  of  one  is 
communicated  to  all. 

And  then  there  is  the  cause  of  Christian  learning  and  culture,  universal, — 
it  too  has  a right  to  interrogate  the  guardians  of  Knox  College,  this  day, 
saying,  men  and  brethren  what  do  ye? 

In  presence  so  august,  at  the  bar  of  a tribunal  so  impressive,  in  full  view 
of  interests  so  far  reaching  and  solemn,  who  would  not  stand  abashed  and 
trembling?  Who  would  not  feel  his  own  littleness  and  nothingness? 

But,  gentlemen,  wisely  or  unwisely,  I have  accepted  the  trust  which  you 
have  committed  to  my  hands,  and  until  that  trust  is  recalled  or  surrendered, 
the  honor,  enlargement  and  prosperity  of  Knox  College  shall  be  the  one 
paramount  thought  and  concern  of  my  life.  I believe  that  there  are  here  in 
abundance,  in  rich  profusion,  all  the  essential  elements  and  resources  of  a 
strong  and  vigorous  institution.  I do  not  allow  myself  to  doubt  that  these 
resources  can  be  utilized  to  that  end.  If  Knox  College  is  to  rise  in  streng  th 
and  beauty  and  power,  the  city  of  Galesburg  and  the  county  of  Knox,  must 
take  the  initiative — this  done,  other  help  will  not  be  wanting.  I have  outlined 
my  conception  of  the  true  life  and  strength  of  a college,  and  of  the  attitude 
it  should  assume  as  a moral  and  religious  force.  If  the  friends  of  this 
institution  believe,  with  me,  that  these  views  are  sound,  and  will  cordially 
unite  in  a determined,  fraternal,  whole-souled  effort  to  carry  them  out,  I 
believe  that  all  will  be  astonished  at  the  ease  and  quickness  with  which  our 
best  hopes  will  be  realized. 

I have  no  pledges  or  promises  to  make,  great  or  small,  except  these  two: 
that  with  all  my  might,  and  with  singleness  of  heart  and  steadfastness  of 
purpose  I will  try  to  be  of  some  service  to  this  college : and  that  when  it  shall 
be  either  your  judgment  or  mine,  that,  in  that  endeavor,  from  whatsoever 
cause,  I have  not  been  successful,  I will  quietly,  promptly  and  peaceably 
withdraw  from  the  Presidency  and  from  the  college.  I come  among  you  to 
help  in  this  grand  enterprise,  if  I can.  If  that  may  not  be,  I at  least  do  not 
mean  to  be  a hindrance.  The  world  is  large,  and  fields  of  labor  abundant. 
No  arm  that  is  able  and  willing  to  pull,  need  long  lack  for  an  oar. 

These  are  my  views  and  purposes  touching  these  matters.  It  has  seemed 
fit  to  utter  them  here,  in  this  frank  and  simple  way,  to  the  end  that  we  may 


18 


INAUGURAL  CEREMONIES. 


all  be  at  one,  from  the  very  outset.  An  open,  straightforward  course,  I 
think,  is  always  the  best  for  all  parties — it  is,  at  any  rate,  the  one  that  I shall 
endeavor  to  pursue.  It  is  the  only  “policy’'  in  which  I believe. 

And  now,  honored  gentlemen  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  I will  do  my  best 
to  carry  out  all  your  instructions  and  suggestions  with  reference  to  the 
welfare  of  Knox  College,  according  to  my  best  discernment  of  their  letter  and 
spirit ; and  I do  most  earnestly  and  sincerely  bespeak  your  constant  aid  and 
counsel,  and  your  patient  consideration  of  the  errors  of  judgment  into  which, 
through  inexperience,  I shall  be  so  likely  to  fall. 

To  you,  dear  brethren  of  the  Faculty,  I come  as  an  associate  and  co- 
laborer. I know  your  devotion,  your  fidelity,  your  ability,  your  solicitudes 
and  your  abounding  labors  and  toils.  I would  share  in  those  labors  and  help 
to  carry  those  burdens,  and  that  will  I do,  as  God  shall  give  me  wisdom  and 
strength.  Upon  you  has  rested  the  responsibility  of  sustaining  Knox  College, 
and  most  faithfully  have  you  fulfilled  the  trust.  With  quiet  courage  you 
have  sept  right  on.  When  others  have  been  ready  to  falter  and  faint,  you 
have  not  desponded.  But  for  your  cheerful  fortitude,  unselfish  devotion, 
and  willing  sacrifices,  I know  not  what  would  have  become  of  Knox  College. 
I believe  the  dawn  is  not  distant — I think  I can  see  the  flush  of  a new  day 
already  deepening  in  the  East.  If  it  come,  to  you,  and  your  associates  of  the 
past,  will  the  honor  be  due ; and  when  it  comes,  I shall  almost  envy  you  the 
glad  and  grateful  reflections  that  will  be  yours. 

Alumni  of  Knox  College — you  who  knew  her  in  the  beauty  of  her  fresh 
and  ardent  prime,  and  you  who  are  her  younger  children,  do  not  cease  to  love 
and  cherish  your  Literary  Mother.  Make  her  cause  your  own — be  very 
jealous  of  her  honor — speak  for,  defend,  stand  by  her.  Come  from  far  and 
near  to  her  anniversaries,  as  company  after  company  of  her  sons  and  daughters 
attain  their  literary  majority,  and  go  forth  with  her  benediction.  She  needs 
your  sympathy,  your  influence,  your  co-operation.  She  is  still  young  and 
fair — no  wrinkle  lines  her  face — no  silver  threads  her  hair.  Distant  be  the 
day  when  her  queenly  head  shall  be  bowed  by  that  bitterest  of  all  sorrows : 
filial  ingratitude.  Other  burdens  she  will  try  to  bear — spare  her  that.  God 
helping  me,  she  shall  know  no  grief  that  I can  turn  away,  and  she  shall  still 
smile,  even  though  it  be  through  tears. 

Students  of  Knox  College — The  relation  I now  assume  toward  you  is 
almost  parental  in  character.  I would  have  it  become  more  and  more  so,  as 
the  years  come  and  go,  and  we  know  each  other  better.  It  is  my  cherished 
conception  of  the  true  type  of  the  office  I am  to  bear.  You  can  make  that 
office  a crown  of  thorns,  or  a coronal  of  joy.  You  can  give  me  courage  by 
•day  and  songs  in  the  night,  how  great  soever  my  labors,  or  you  can  send  me 
with  a heavy  heart,  to  a sleepless  pillow.  Not  till  I must,  will  I doubt  which 
you  will  do.  It  will  be  impossible  that  I should  not  always  and  in  all  things, 
seek  your  truest  welfare  and  happiness,  as  young  men  and  women,  and  as 
students.  Will  it  not  be  impossible  for  you,  knowingly  and  wantonly,  to 
tear  the  heart  that  yearns  for  you,  or  to  cloud  the  life  that  will  be  devoted 
to  you  ? I do  so  believe.  I shall  not  forget  that  you  are  young,  full  of 
impulses  and  enthusiasms  of  youth — only  do  not  you  forget  that  to  all  the 
sports  and  pleasures  and  intensities  of  youthful  blood  and  spirit,  there  is  a 
golden  boundary,  within  which  is  room  for  all  the  fullness  of  innocent  delights 
and  joys — beyond  which  is  moral  night,  and  sin  and  death.  Only  keep  on 
the  hither  side  of  that  moral  dead-line , drawn  by  the  finger  of  God,  so  legibly 


INAUGURAL  CEREMONIES. 


19 


in  his  word,  in  the  heart  and  conscience,  and  across  all  the  fields  of  life,  and 
you  will  be  safe  and  happy,  and  my  joy  will  be  full. 

Citizens  of  Galesburg — May  not  this  stranger  within  your  gates,  ask  for 
himself  your  just  and  kindly  judgment,  and  for  his  work  your  generous 
interest  and  sympathy.  He  will  sorely  need  it  all.  He  comes  to  your 
beautiful  city  with  the  one  absorbing  desire  to  do  something  for  Knox  College. 
Do  not  your  interests  lie  in  the  same  direction  ? If  success  is  to  crown  our 
efforts  and  gladden  our  hearts,  more  will  depend  upon  you,  at  last,  than  upon 
him.  The  hour  that  you  shall  say,  out  of  the  depths  of  conviction  and 
feeling;  Knox  College  shall  live — from  that  hour  her  resurrection  unto  new 
life  and  glory,  is  sure.  Ought  it  not  be  said?  Will  you  not  say  it? 

Friends  of  Knox  College,  everywhere — In  the  precious  name  of  that  sound 
Christian  culture,  to  which  this  institution  was  set  apart  and  consecrated  nearly 
forty  years  ago,  and  the  need  of  which,  in  all  the  arts  and  industries,  and 
through  all  the  arteries  of  private,  social  and  public  life,  was  surely  never 
more  apparent  than  now — I ask  you  to  give  us  your  aid  and  confidence  and 
sympathy.  Without  these,  we  cannot  succeed — with  these,  and  the  blessing 
of  God,  we  cannot  and  shall  not  fail. 


o 

ADDRESS  TO  GRADUATING  CLASS. 

After  conferring  the  Degrees  upon  the  graduating  class,  Dr.  Bateman 
addressed  the  class  as  follows : 

It  hardly  seems  meet  that  these  parting  words  should  be  spoken  by  me. 
Fitter  were  it  that  they  should  be  uttered  by  some  one  of  those  toward  whom 
you  have  so  long  sustained  the  close  and  tender  relation  of  pupils. 

And  yet  I am  not  sorry  for  this  one  opportunity  to  speak  to  you,  though 
it  be  only  to  say  God  bless  you,  and  good-bye. 

You  have  successfully  and  honorably  completed  the  courses  of  study 
prescribed  in  Knox  College,  and  have  received  the  customary  testimonials  of 
diligence,  good  conduct  and  scholarship. 

Your  college  days  are  ended.  This  day  divides,  as  no  other  day  has  done, 
the  past  from  the  future  of  your  lives.  You  linger  here  a few  moments,  in 
the  blended  light  of  memory  and  hope,  ere  you  gird  yourselves  for  the  toils 
and  conflicts  that  remain. 

One  narrow  sea  you  have  already  safely  crossed.  The  voyage  you  are 
soon  to  begin,  will  only  end  when  the  heaving  sea  of  life  itself  shall  have  been 
traversed,  and  the  anchor  falls  upon  the  solemn  shores  of  the  Silent  Land. 

What  that  voyage  shall  be — whether  prosperous  or  disastrous — whether 
as  one  by  one  you  near  those  outer  shores,  the  light  of  heaven  shall  fall  upon 
your  faces,  the  music  of  heaven  upon  your  ears,  and  the  peace  and  joy  of 
heaven  upon  your  hearts,  or  darkness  and  fear  shall  be  round  about  you, — 
none  of  these  friends,  no,  not  the  tenderest  and  dearest,  can  tell.  God 
knoweth. 

But  this  we  know : It  will  depend  upon  yourselves — upon  the  use  you 
make  of  the  gifts  and  powers  you  possess — upon  the  ends  you  choose  and 
towards  which  you  work — upon  the  worthiness  of  your  aims  and  purposes  in 


20 


INAUGURAL  CEREMONIES. 


life — upon  your  fidelity  to  the  immutable  principles  of  rectitude — upon  your 
wakeful  attention  and  loyalty  to  the  voice  and  regency  of  conscience,  as 
enlightened  and  quickened  by  the  word  and  spirit  of  God — upon  your  cordial 
love,  belief  and  practice  of  the  truth,  as  it  is  in  Jesus. 

I am  persuaded  that  you  need  not  that  I should  admonish  you  touching 
any  of  these  things.  Again  and  again  have  they,  I am  sure,  been  impressed 
upon  you  by  these  faithful  teachers,  more  forcibly  and  tenderly  than  any 
words  of  mine  can  do. 

You  have  laid  a few  foundations  in  science  and  learning — only  that.  But 
I am  sure  they  are  good  foundations,  and  well  laid.  The  superstructure  is 
yet  to  be  reared  thereon,  and  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  that  shall  be.  It 
will  depend  upon  you.  You  can  make  it  strong  and  beautiful.  Let  me 
entreat  you  to  build  thereon  a goodly  temple,  even  the  fabric  of  a manly, 
symmetrical,  Christian  character — the  fairest,  most  precious  and  enduring 
moral  structure  beneath  the  stars. 

The  world  is  waiting  for  you.  It  has  need  of  you — sore  need  of  you,, 
every  one,  and  for  all  your  gifts  and  culture  and  power.  It  has  a place,  too, 
for  each  of  you.  It  may  not  be  an  exalted  or  a conspicuous  -place ; tjie 
acclaim  and  plaudits  of  men  may  not  await  you ; not  a name  in  this  dear 
class  of  ’75  may  ever  be  known  to  fame,  or  live  on  the  historic  page ; not  one 
of  you  may  ever  achieve  what  men  call  greatness. 

But  in  the  sight  of  God,  of  angels  and  of  all  good  fnen,  there  is  a 
greatness  which  you,  and  each  of  you,  may  surely  attain  ; there  are  honors 
which  you  may  win,  the  lustre  of  which  will  remain  when  coronets  and  crowns 
and  the  heads  that  wear  them  are  alike  in  the  dust,  and  the  sheen  of  their 
jewels  is  extinguished  forever;  there  are  garlands  for  you  that  will  abide  in 
perennial  freshness  and  beauty  when  the  academic  laurel  shall  ’ihave  withered, 
and  the  amaranth  shall  have  lost  its  fabled  immortality — there  are  songs  for 
you,  the  melody  of  which  will  linger  in  tremulous  sweetness  and  pathos  in 
your  hearts,  when  all  mortal  minstrelsy  shall  cease  to  ravish  the  ear. 

Is  this  fancy?  Say  I too  much?  Not  so. 

It  is  simply  the  greatness  of  a good  and  true  life — a life  that  the  poorest 
and  humblest  may  live  ; a life  that  bravely  and  patiently  stands  in  its  lot,  be 
it  lofty  or  lowly ; that  gratefully  accepts  and  wisely  uses  whatever  of  earthly 
good  providence  bestows ; that  makes  the  most  and  the  best  of  passing 
opportunities,  and  finds  its  sure  and  sufficient  ^reward  in  the  consciousness  of 
useful  burdens  cheerfully  borne,  and  daily  duties  faithfully  performed — they 
are  the  honors  that  crown  and  glorify  the  memory  of  him  who  has  helped  to 
make  the  world  sweeter  and  purer  and  better  ; they  are  the  garlands  which 
encircle  with  immortal  green  the  head  of  him  who  has  remembered  the  poor, 
lifted  up  the  fallen,  and  borne  the  cup  of  cold  water  to  the  little  ones  who 
were  ready  to  perish  ; and  the  songs  are  they  that  are  heard  floating  out  from 
the  walls  and  gates  of  the  city  of  God,  as  the  good  man  nears  the  dark  river, 
and  goes  down  into  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death. 

Millions  have  achieved  that  greatness,  earned  those  honors,  worn  those 
garlands,  heard  those  songs,  and  died  like  conquerors,  whose  lives  were  as 
modest  as  the  daisies  and  buttercups  of  the  lowly  vales  in  which  they  dwelt. 

Be,  then,  true  to  yourselves,  to  your  age  and  country  and  to  your  God ; 
true  to  the  college  wherein  you  have  been  nurtured,  and  to  the  obligations 
imposed  by  the  intellectual  and  moral  culture  and  power  that  you  have  here 
received. 


Fall  Term  opens  Thursday,  September  2d. 

Winter  Term  opens  Thursday,  January  6th. 

Summer  Term  opens  Thursday,  April  6th. 


FACULTY. 


Hon.  NEWTON  BATEMAN,  A.M.  LL.D.,  President, 

Professor  of  Moral  Philosophy  and  Political  Economy. 

* Rev.  ALEX.  F.  KEMP,  A.M.  LL.D., 

Professor  of  Mental  Philosophy  and  English  Literature. 

ALBERT  HURD,  A.M., 

Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Natural  Science. 

GEORGE  CHURCHILL,  A.M., 

Principal  of  the  Academy. 

MILTON  L.  COMSTOCK,  A.M., 

Professor  of  Mathematics,  Natural  Philosophy,  and  Astronomy. 

Rev.  THOMAS  R,  WILLARD,  A.M., 

Professor  of  Ancient  Languages. 

W.  P.  NORTHRUP,  A.B., 

Instructor  in  Elocution,  and  Classical  Tutor. 

Mrs.  AMELIA  F.  BANGS, 

Principal  of  the  Ladies’  Seminary. 

Mrs.  C.  MAUD  BROWN, 

Teacher  in  the  Academy. 

Miss  CORNELIA  L.  JONES, 

Instructor  in  Drawing  and  Painting. 

JOHN  S.  FULLER, 

Professor  of  Music,  Yocal  and  Instrumental. 


For  further  information  address  the  President  or  any 
member  of  the  Faculty,  or 


GEORGE  DAVIS,  Treasurer. 


